Sophie Scott | Schools Week

Kings Science Academy trio appear in court charged with fraud offences

The former headteacher and two senior members of staff at one of the country’s first free schools have today appeared in court charged with fraud offences. Sajid Hussain Raza, the founder and former principal of Kings Science Academy in Bradford, was charged last month with nine offences. It follows a police investigation into alleged financial […]

Labour Education Pledges: the complete list

Labour announced its education manifesto today. Here’s the full list of pledges: – All secondary school and college pupils will get guaranteed face-to-face advice from trained careers advisers, beginning at the age of 11. – Integrated advice will ensure teenagers learn about high quality apprenticeships and technical degrees as well as traditional academic routes into […]

Unions welcome Labour plans for one-to-one career advice, but warn of more Westminster control

Union leaders have welcomed Labour proposals for face-to-face careers advice for all secondary school pupils – but fired a warning shot over handing more control to Westminster. Labour unveiled in its education manifesto today plans to provide expert advice for pupils from the age of 11. They said it would “revitalise a careers advice system on life support”. […]

80 school leaders call on Labour not to ‘reverse’ academy freedoms – but benefit of autonomy may be overstated

Eighty school leaders from some of the country’s best-performing schools have today questioned Labour plans to ‘reverse’ academy freedoms – saying “it’s not a time to stop something that is working to the benefit of so many children”. But analysis by Schools Week suggests the schools represented by the leaders may not extend their benefit […]

Labour pledges one-to-one career advice for every teenager at unveiling of party’s education manifesto

Every teenager will receive guaranteed one-to-one career advice to revitalise a system on “life support”, Labour has announced this morning. The party would also reintroduce compulsory work experience for 14 to 16-year-olds under its new vision for education. Ed Miliband, shadow education secretary Tristam Hunt and shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna all unveiled the party’s education […]

Teacher banned indefinitely for changing pupils’ SATs papers

A teacher has been banned from teaching indefinitely after changing pupils’ key stage two exam papers. Ian Guffick also asked pupils to change their own exam sheets at Mitton Manor Primary School, in Tewkesbury. Mr Guffick admitted changing pupils’ answers, but said he did it to make them more legible. A report, released today, said […]

New “dating service” brings together research and classroom practice

A new brokerage service linking up research evidence to classroom practice in 12 schools will launch this month. The Evidence for the Frontline service is aimed at guiding education professionals to evidence and expertise so they can make evidence-based decisions in the classroom. It will be based at Sandringham School in Hertfordshire and is funded by the Education […]

HQ of three education organisations including Ark Schools remain closed due to central London fire

The central London offices of three education organisations, including Ark Schools, remain closed this week following an electrical fire under a nearby pavement. Workers at the head offices in Kingway share the same seven-floor building as education charities Future Leaders and Teaching Leaders. Staff in the three offices were among 5,000 people evacuated from buildings […]

Cash to implement infant free school meals policy is ‘not going where it is needed’

Concerns have been raised after schools with poor rates of free school meal uptake missed out on a share of £8.5m in funding to support the improvement of kitchen and dining facilities – while others, who did not ask for the cash, have triumphed. The funding has been released by the Department for Education (DfE) […]